[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 159 (2013), Part 7]
[House]
[Page 9592]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                             OBAMA VACATION

  (Mr. WILLIAMS asked and was given permission to address the House for 
1 minute.)
  Mr. WILLIAMS. Mr. Speaker, the military has taken $500 billion in 
budget cuts this year; Congress has slashed its budget by 11 percent in 
the last 3 years; and this year, at the President's command, several 
government agencies have cut vital programs and employees due to 
mandatory spending cuts.
  Everyone across the country is being asked to do more with less--
families, businesses, the military, and government agencies--but the 
President is sending Americans another message: you pay while he plays.
  That's right. The Obama family is taking an extravagant summer 
vacation to Africa, costing taxpayers an estimated $100 million. That 
is obscene, and Americans should be outraged. This money could keep the 
public White House tours funded--which the President canceled due to 
budget constraints--for 26 years. It could pay for an additional 22,000 
college degrees for soldiers enrolled in the Army's Tuition Assistance 
program. It could reverse the potential $90 million in cuts for Border 
Patrol agents and border security. In fact, it could fund the entire 
Houston Astros' payroll times four.
  Mr. Speaker, instead of asking everyone but himself to make enormous 
sacrifices, it's time for the President to make his and put the people 
first.

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